Joint Base Lewis-McChord unit deploys for overseas contingency operations

Published Aug. 27, 2010
By Airman Leah Young
62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- More than 100 Airmen assigned to the 4th Airlift Squadron departed McChord Field here Aug. 26 for a 120-day deployment in support of the operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

"We will be moving people and cargo, conducting combat airdrop missions and supporting freedom," said Lt. Col. Rodney Lewis, 4th AS commander. "The only difference is, we'll be closer to the area of responsibility."

The unit will operate out of a single intra theater base as the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, with a mission focused on providing global strategic airlift, combat airdrop, aeromedical evacuation and humanitarian relief, to create an air bridge for personnel, equipment and supplies throughout their assigned areas of responsibility.

The 62nd Airlift Wing has four flying squadrons, and each squadron deploys about every 16 months. Constant readiness is a key factor to ensuring a successful deployment with such high operations tempo.

"We're always preparing for these frequent deployments," said Staff Sgt. Jon Mendez, 62nd Operation Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment craftsman. "All the training we do throughout the year is to make sure we stay mission ready. We need to be prepared when we're over there."

According to Sergeant Mendez, constantly deploying and being away from families can be stressful. However, being able to rely on squadron support and bond with co-workers is an experience in itself.

"A deployment means being around the same exact people all day, every day," said Sergeant Mendez. "You're all going through the same stress and hardships, so you eventually learn to rely on each other and you become a family."

Being able to rely on each other is an important part of a deployment. Especially for those Airmen who have never been through an overseas contingency operation.

"The most exciting part about this is simply not knowing what it's like over there," said Airman Michael Vandermeer, 62nd Operation Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment journeyman. "I'm headed over with really good people beside me, and I don't feel nervous at all. I'm really looking forward to this experience."

The 4th AS is replacing the 8th AS, which is scheduled to return the first week of September.

"I am absolutely confident the transition between our flying squadrons will be seamless," said Colonel Lewis. "The Airmen have had the same training and complete the same missions. Everyone is over there representing Team McChord."